Match-case.



J. H. ASTRUCK.

MATCH CASE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. I7. I9Is.

1,2%,1 1E, Patented Jan. 30, 1917.

"Arm/INEI JOHN H. ASTRUCK. vO1? NEW YORK, N. Y.y

Specification of Letters Patent.

Fatented dan. 30, 19917'.

'Application led April 17, 1916.v Serial No. 91,541.

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, JoHNrH.AsTRUcK;. a citizen of the United States, and a resident oi New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Match- C-ases, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a match case of novel construction that serves likewise as a cigar cutter which is normally concealed withintlie case.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure 1 is a front view partly in section of a match case embodying my invention, showing the case open; Fig. 2, a longitudinalsection of the case, showing it closed; Fig. 3, a bottom view of Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a section on line 1-1 Fig. 2; Fig. 5, a section on line 5-5 Fig. 1, and Fig. 6, a side view of Fig. 3.

To the body 1 of the match case, there is secured, a dished cover or lid 2, by means of a spring hinge 3, case 1 being shown to be provided with a scratching strip L1 for a string of matches 5. The cover may be closed by a catch or push piece 6, slidably mounted in the cover, and having a hook 7 that is adapted to be thrown into engagement with a slotted keeper S, of case 1, by means of a spring 9 that is secured to the cover and engages the catch. Partly across the inner face of cover 2 there extends near the free end thereof, a housing 10, having a face plate 11 that is apertured as at 12 for the reception of a cigar tip, a similar aperture 13 being formed in the body of the cover, so that the cigar may be introduced from either side. Within casing 12, is accommodated a slidable and tiltable knife blade 14, having a linger piece 15, arranged at right angles to push piece 6, said blade being adapted to be projected sidewise out of the cover, through a slot 16, formed in the rim 17 of the latter. Blade 14 is influenced by a spring 18, secured at one of its ends to a toe 19 of the blade, and at its other end to a projection 20 of the housing, said spring havinga tendency to throw the blade outward. In order to lock the blade in its retracted position, it is provided at the side opposite spring 18, with a notch 21, adapted to be engaged by the rim 22 of housing 10. `When the blade is tilted laterally, until its notch has cleared rim 22, spring 18 will throw blade 14 outward, through slot 16, so that the device is ready to cut olf the .tip of a cigar introduced through either one of the apertures^t12`and 13.

Means are provided for causing the blade to spring outward, simultaneously with the opening of the casing, and without requiring any separate manipulation. These means consist of a spring arm 23 secured to housing 10 at 24, and having a bent end 25 that engages blade 14, in proximity to its notch 21. Arm 23 extends across the path of push piece 6, which projects through a slot of housing 10 into engagement with the arm. When the push piece is pressed inward, it will cause a disengagement of hook 7 from keeper 8, so that the cover is thrown up by spring hinge 3. At the same time, the push piece by swinging arm 23 inward, will tilt blade 111 so as to dislodge rim 22 from slot 21, and cause spring 18 to throw blade 14- out. After the tip of the cigar has been severed, the blade is retracted, and then the case is closed. The length of housing 10 should be somewhat less than the width of cover 2 and its inner end should be left open as at 26 (Fig. 5), so that the tips of the cigars will drop into the match case, and not clog up the cutting mechanism. If it is desired to open the match case without using the cutter, the latter is held back by a pressure on finger piece 15, while catch 6, is pressed inward. If it is desired to use the cutter without opening the match case, the cutter is released by a lateral pressure on finger piece 15, which will cause notch 21 to clear rim 22, and thus permit spring 18 to throw the blade out. It will be seen that when the match case is closed, face plate 11 of housing 10, will bear upon the ends of matches 5, so as to hold them in position. In this way, the housing besides accommodating blade 14, assumes the additional function of serving as a retaining device for the matches.

I claim:

1. A match case provided with a cover having a slotted rim, a blade slidable within the cover and adapted to be projected outward through said slotted rim, a spring engaging the blade, means for locking the blade to the cover, and means for opening the cover and simultaneously unlocking the blade.

2. A match case provided with a cover, a blade slidable and laterally displaceable within the cover, a spring engaging the blade, means for locking the blade to the cover, a catch f0.1- openng the cover and simultaneously unlocking the blade, and a finger piece on the blade arranged at an angle to said catch.

3. A match case provided with a springhinged cover and a housing Within the cover, one of said parts being apertured, a slidable 'and tiltable blade Within the housing, a spring engaging the blade and adapted to throw the same outward, means for 10 gages the blade, said arm being adapted to 15 unlock the blade from the housing.

JOHN H. ASTRUCK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. C. 

